Preservation Matters: Candidates address historic preservation

Our city is fortunate to have such a diverse, extensive collection of historic resources that make our community special, many of which have been highlighted over the past year in these articles. Our historic downtown and neighborhoods are the destinations they are today because of the vision, commitment, effort, investment and oversight of many over decades.

This is not something we can take for granted as we look toward the future. Preserving our city’s special character will continue to take vision, commitment, effort, investment, and oversight by city officials and residents.

With the election only two days away, the Foundation thought it would be helpful to voters to know how the candidates view historic preservation. Please note that as a not-for-profit 501(c)3, the Foundation cannot endorse any candidate for elected office. All of the candidates for City Council were sent several questions relating to historic preservation. Following are the responses we received.

Question: “Do you think historic preservation is important to the economic success of our city? If so, why?”

Shauna Sutton, mayoral candidate: “Yes, historic preservation has played a large part in making Saratoga Springs a major destination, by helping to improve our economy with the establishment of businesses and jobs which in turn help support the needs of our visitors and residents. Visitors come from all over the world, visit our Visitor’s Center and enjoy our award-winning, vibrant downtown. They also come for the architecture of our restored public and private buildings and experience our famous mineral springs. Restoration and rehabilitation work also provides work opportunities for those skilled in more traditional trades.”

Joanne Yepsen, mayoral candidate: “Historic Preservation is key to Saratoga Springs’ economic vitality and our attractiveness to both tourists to visit and families and retirees to settle down here. The success of our thriving downtown is predicated on its being one of 7 historic districts, and the subsequent implementation of a Design Review process that has saved countless buildings, enhanced façades and preserved a streetscape that is visually appealing and energetic. The other historic neighborhoods have seen similar improvements, including adaptive re-use.

John Franck, commissioner of Accounts candidate: “I know that historic preservation is important to the economic success of Saratoga Springs. Back in the 1970s when the city was in a long decline economically, Mayor Raymond Watkin started the idea of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. By bringing back our wonderful historic buildings versus tearing them down, we were able to restore our downtown core. This was done by grants and façade easements allowing investors to afford restoring these beautiful buildings to their original character. I currently own two properties in the historic district. I also sat on the preservation board a decade ago and found it very rewarding.”

Michele Madigan, commissioner of Finance candidate: “Yes, the historic nature of our city buildings is one of the main reasons people visit Saratoga Springs, making the city a destination tourist attraction. We have several historic neighborhoods and Broadway that lend to the culture of the city. Maintaining and protecting these neighborhoods is essential to the character of city.”

Chris Mathiesen, commissioner of Public Safety candidate: “Historic preservation is important to the economic success of our city. The 19th and early 20th-century architecture of many of our buildings is an important part of the charm, beauty and ambiance of our city. This is an important part of the success that Saratoga Springs enjoys as a convention and tourist destination.”

Richard Wirth, commissioner of Public Safety candidate: “Saratoga Springs has been world renowned through history, not only because of its waters but also because of the legacy of our racetrack. It is not an ordinary racetrack but one steeped in history and an era of enchantment, where today’s visitors can easily envision what life was like here 150 years ago, at its inception. The preserved history of our buildings, parks, Broadway and racetracks is something that takes us all to a special place in time and without that link to history, the charm would be lost. Not only is historic preservation important, it is vital, because it is the essence of Saratoga.”

William McTygue, commissioner of Public Works candidate: “Unquestionably, historic preservation is key to the city’s future success. In many ways, the preservation movement in Saratoga Springs has served to connect the current residents, new residents as well as native Saratogians, to our city’s important and historic past. Evidence of our city’s distinctive architectural evolution is spread throughout the community. The differing architecture alone is symbolic of the attention to quality and detail that was once know[n] as exclusive to Saratoga style. The historic character of our buildings and the significant public support to preserve pieces of our important past help define Saratoga Springs as the very special community it is and a place we all love.”

Anthony “Skip” Scirocco, commissioner of Public Works candidate: “Yes, I think many visitors that come to the city come here to enjoy our historic buildings as well as the Saratoga racetrack and other landmarks — Canfield Casino and beautiful Congress Park.”

Question: The Local Historic Review Ordinance is the most effective mechanism to ensure that our historic resources are preserved. What do you think of the Historic Review Zoning Approval process?

Sutton: “We appreciate our partnership with members of the New York State Historic Preservation Office and the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. We worked with both organizations quite often for the last few years while we were updating and reorganizing our zoning regulations. We received funding to update our guide documents and make them more user friendly. We streamlined the application process with input from staff and members of our Land Use Boards. We clarified and strengthened the demolition portion of the City’s ordinance. We also redesigned and updated the historic residential design guidelines. The city has a process that respects our city’s heritage without imposing extreme burdens on property owners.”

Yepsen: “I would suggest that from time to time it would be wise to review the HRZA process with an eye to up dating and streamlining the guidelines. While I think it has served us well over the long term, too many people seeking approvals complain about backlogs, delays and uneven enforcement. It would be helpful to both those who have to implement the guidelines and those who have to follow them to have periodic updates, working toward a user-friendly format without sacrificing quality of life.”

Franck: “I believe it’s very important to follow the Historic Review Zoning process. Short cuts on historic buildings can cause permanent damage to the buildings structurally and from an esthetic point of view.”

Madigan: “The city enacted the historic preservation ordinance in 1977, which covers several neighborhoods throughout the city, to project special historic and architectural characters of building from destruction, poor rehabilitation and new construction. A review process has been put in place to assist owners with changing needs of building maintenance, but to still allow for the original historic character of our city buildings. I think this is an excellent process and includes owners going before a design review commission and SSPF before moving forward on a project.”

Mathiesen: “The Historic Review Zoning process is an important part of maintaining and protecting properties in our Historic Review District.

Wirth: “Since the historic review process is essentially the means of carrying out our local zoning ordinance, it is important to our success as a community. This process serves as a means to protect what we already have while simultaneously providing a means for us to achieve the ‘old Saratoga’ look to our landscape and surroundings as we build, rehabilitate and in-fill. Although we have many newer buildings, the historic review process has given us a blended look that pulls together new and old into the vibrant community we enjoy today.”

McTygue: “Like the city’s other land-use boards (Planning and Zoning) the Design Review Commission (DRC) has an important role to play in overseeing building renovations and new construction within the city’s designated historic districts. The DRC’s primary function is to ensure compatibility with proposed changes in building features and/or new construction. I support the mission of the city’s Design Review process and credit much of the city’s success to the standards set by the DRC as well as the important assistance provided by our own Preservation Foundation.”

Scirocco: “The new process now allows the Rules and Laws to be clarified, therefore making them objectively clearer. It also allows residents to discuss any issues regarding any process of the Zoning and Planning of the Historic District.”

The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation believes that preserving our unique historic downtown and residential neighborhoods has played and continues to play a critical role in attracting new residents, visitors, and businesses to our community, which directly contributes to the overall high quality of life and economic success of Saratoga Springs. The candidates were asked additional questions so if you interested in learning more about the candidates and their views, go to www.saratogapreservation.org. We hope you find this information helpful when you vote.

Founded in 1977, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization that promotes preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs. Samantha Bosshart is the executive director.